Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)

Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)

The Night Parrot (scientific name: Pezoporus occidentalis) is one of the rarest and most elusive birds in the world, endemic to the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. Long believed to be possibly extinct, its recent confirmation through acoustic monitoring using “songmeters” has revived global conservation interest.

Salient Features: This small, nocturnal parrot is uniquely adapted to desert ecosystems. It has yellow-green plumage with dark markings, allowing effective camouflage in spinifex grasslands. Weighing around 60 grams, it is active only at night and identified by distinctive “ding-ding” and croaking calls. It primarily feeds on grass seeds and herbs, and can travel up to 40 km in a single night in search of food and water. Its population is critically low, estimated between 40 and 250 individuals, and it is classified as Critically Endangered.